Emitter Clogging and Hydraulic Performance of Drip System under Different Water Qualities and Placement Techniques

Abstract

The present study was conducted at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India, to evaluate the effect of sand-disc filters, pressure compensating (bioline) and non-pressure compensating (inline) emitters, and surface and subsurface placement of laterals on emitter clogging using wastewater and groundwater for irrigation. Results of this study revealed that besides water quality, the type of emitter, placement of laterals, and emitter position on laterals affected emitter's clogging. The major cause of clogging was associated with the precipitated substance accumulated at the emitter inlet concurrently close the micro-pore channels of the emitter, consequently reduce the emitter discharge. The major substances that took part in the clogging of emitter were EC, pH, HCO₃, Turbidity, total solid, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and total coliform. It was observed that these substances (HCO₃, Turbidity, total solid, E. coli, and total coliform) of groundwater and wastewater were categorized with a medium risk of clogging except for magnesium (low risk of clogging). Pressure compensating drip emitter showed better performance against clogging as compared to non-pressure compensating drip emitter. Sub-surface placement of drip emitter was more prone to clogging under both wastewater and groundwater. It was observed a significant (p ≤ 0.05) effect of lateral placement, emitter types, and the interaction between these factors on emitter's clogging under both types of water. Emitter flow rate decreased with the increasing time of operation of the drip systems at normal operating pressure, because of clogging of emitters. By flushing operation, it was observed a 3 to 5% higher flow rate in inline drip emitter than bioline (1-2%). The R² value, which precisely describes the head-discharge relationship, was high (0.99) in most of the bioline treatments. This study also observed and recommended that pressure compensating emitter would be the most appropriate technique to reduce the clogging while using wastewater for irrigation. Flushing effectively controlled the emitter's clogging thus improved the emitter's water discharge rate.